Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-05-28
War In Europe.

Rumors have for some time been rife
that the relations of Russia to the Haps-
burg empire have become strained al
most to the point of complete rupture,
but now we have declaration from the
most authentic source that war be-
tween these two powers is inevitable
The budget of the Austrian Foreign Of
fee was adopted on Thursday upon the
express understanding that its large de-
mands were based on the urgent neces-
sity of preparing for collision. The
committee, in recommending the large
appropriations asked for, avowed their
conviction that conflict with Russia
could not be long deferred, and it was
because majority of the delegations
agreed with them that their report was
adopted.
This public acknowledgment of the
critical aspect of the political situation
in Eastern Europe will be understood
to mean that the statesmen who control
the diplomatic and military affairs of the
dual empire abandon the hope and doubt
the expediency of deferring a catas-
trophe. When we look back, indeed,
on the course of events in the Balkan
peninsula since the Congress of Berlin,
we can see that but for the circumspec-
ton and dexterity of the Austrian Cabi-
net war must long ago have broken out
between the two contestants for the Of
toman inheritance. From the moment
that, through the acquisition of Bosnia
and the Herzegovina, the Hapsburg
monarchy was suffered to drivea wedge
into the heart of the peninsula, her po-
litical interests became Numerically
opposed to those of Russia, and it was
clear war alone could adjust the rival
claims to dominate between the Danube
and the Egean.
The history of the Southern Slav
Principalities since the Berlin Congress
is tissue of intrigues more or less OPP
en- and defiant on the part of the par
tisans of the two contestants for ascend.
ancy. Thus far the sharp and rancor-
GUS struggle for influence seems to have
resulted in a slight advantage for Rus.
STA, for the Prince of Bulgaria has PROV
ed himself a willing tool of the Gar,
has overthrown the Bulgarian constitu-
ton by coup d etdt, and has virtually
placed the whole military and civil adj
ministration of his country in Russian
hands. Montenegro also must be look
ed upon as a mere Russian outpost
planted on the flank of the territory to
be fought for. In Servia, on the other
hand, the political sympathies are moro
evenly divided, and the well-known in
clination of the Prince for an alliance
with Austria is probably not unconnect-
ed with recent attempts to get rid of him
by assassination. In Roumelia, also,
where the emissaries of the Moscow
Slavophiles have been tryingto play the
same game which proved successful in
Bulgaria, the Russians have been cir
cumvented by the joint influence Of
Austria and Turkey; but the audacious
operations Of the Muscovite agents in
this quarter, coupled with the proof of
their completely in the Bosnian insur-
rection, have convinced the Austrian
Government that they have nothing to
gain by the postponement Of an newt
able war This has become the moro
palpable since the st. Petersburg Gov
eminent has thrown off the mask, and,
instead Of pretending to discountenance
the Vaccinations of the Slavophile
party, has detached army officers for the
avowed object Of placing them in posts
of authority in the Bulgarian service.
Moreover, while infiammable materials
have been heaped up in the peninsula,
Russia has been quietly preparing to ar
rive betimes atthe seat Of the coniiagra-
ton by massing large bodies Of troops
along her western frontier. Should tho
conviction expressed on Thursday by
tho joint delegations Of the Austrian
and Hungarian Parliaments be justified
by the event, Russia would probably
find herself without an ally, and Ger
many and Austria united might rcason-
ably expect to innict such blow on the
Northern Empire as would relieve Eu-
rope for many years from the haunting
spccter OF Muscovite ambition
Horh Sun.